47

1

not have to get petitions.

2

DR. LOEVY: Let me ask you two gentlemen at this

3

point, what would be your opinion in making Baltimore City

4

just another home rule county?

5

MR. RATCHFORD: Again, I want to answer this

6

from a theoretical point of view. From a theoretical

7

point of view, I think today it has a reasonable rela-

8

tionship because of not only the size of the many larger

9

counties which are very close to the City, as far as

10

population, but politically there are all types of rami-

11

fications. For example, excluding anything else, what

12

would you call it? Baltimore City County? This would

13

confuse it with Baltimore County, and to make any one of

14

them give up their name would take an act of God.

15

The State has virtually done it in many in-

16

stances because it says the County and City of Baltimore

17

may do this, and this is how they enact legislation, but

18

to try to get rid of that name Baltimore City, I don't

19

know how you would do it. Even though it may have all the

20

authority of a county or be considered a county, I don't

21

think you will ever change the name of Baltimore City.